Leah Lichey

Leah Lichy and Ireland (5 months).

"I lived in this world of birth, babies and breasts for 10 years as a birth and postpartum doula before giving birth to our first born in December of last year.  Beyond knowing that I always thought my breasts looked a little "weird", I had been educated on the term "Insufficient Glandular Tissue" and feared that was me...and it was. Our daughter was born into water at home with Christmas lights twinkling and carols playing.  Within moments, she latched, on her own, while still attached to me by her cord!  I was immediately in love and SO happy that she seemed to want to nurse right away!  We continued, skin to skin, all day and all night, offering the breast at all times to try and give my supply the best chance.  On day 4, she had lost 8% of her birth weight and was getting jaundice.  I wasn't making enough for her.  I grieved hard and heavy, on and off for a few days, but I was prepared and sprung into action, amongst the tears.  I continued to feed my baby, at my breast, but added donor breastmilk to my SNS (supplemental nursing system) that I had ordered in advance, "just in case".  She drank happily, latched deeply, and didn't seem to even notice the new addition of the thin, rubber tube that had been slipped into the side of her mouth.  For a few weeks, I pumped aggressively and took Goats Rue and the medicine, Domperidone,to try to increase my supply.  But I officially had, what we lovingly refer to as a "micro supply". I ceased trying to build it and just focused on giving her the drops that I was making.  One of the greatest gifts I have ever received has been the incredible outpouring (literally!) of nutrient dense, perfectly designed, lovingly donated human breastmilk from numerous mothers; some of whom I know incredibly well and witnessed become mothers as their doula, and some whom just wanted to help. For all of them, I am forever grateful!  Ireland is 5 1/2 months old, absolutely amazing, and a 100% breastmilk fed baby!  My ultimate goal is to be able to bring her to my breast, gaze into her eyes, cuddle close, and nurse for at least 2 years....so far, so good!"

Claudette Garcia

Claudette Garcia and Zakai (2 years old)

"I sit here sharing our breastfeeding journey as we celebrate my sons 2nd birthday. 730 days of breastfeeding and still no signs of stopping. I always knew that I would breastfeed. It was instinctual for me. My mother breastfed all of us, and my youngest brother until he was almost 5. In the beginning, it was rough. As a first time mom, I only knew what I was told which most of the time included how painful and difficult it would be. After the c-section I demanded that my baby be brought back to me because I planned on breastfeeding and the nurses granted my request. Without a lactation consultant and no help, I latched my baby on for the first time. It was magical. I was doing it! The first night was okay but the following days became a challenge. My incision made it impossible to get comfortable, my nipples were starting to crack, and we were nursing every 10 minutes. I requested to have a lactation consultant help me but that never happened and I was left to figure it out on my own. My partner was my biggest supporter. He encouraged me and never let me give up because he knew how much I wanted this. The days and weeks that followed became more challenging. I had doubts that I would be able to continue or that I could even do it any longer. I was exhausted but we pushed through and after a few months we got the hang of it. We exclusively breastfed for 10 months until we started solids but he never stopped nursing. I called myself a "super lactator" due to my overproduction and ability to spray milk several feet in front of me during a let down. I overcame my fear of nursing in public after being told on several occasions that I needed to cover up. All of my experiences led me to become a breastfeeding peer counselor. I love all things breastfeeding and normalizing breastfeeding is one of my missions. I never knew that something as simple as feeding my child would be so impactful on my life as a mother and woman."

Whittney Scarpace

The wonderful Whittney Scarpace with her son Rylan Anias (7) and daughter's Lucille Adora (3) and Arbor Freya (6 mo). Also pictured is Whittney's son Brahm Copeland (9/1/13 - 11/14/13). Whittney became pregnant with Rylan when she was just 17. She knew she would be doing things on her own and says that his existance changed her life and took her in an entirely new direction. She almost had a cesarean with Rylan but was able to get him out vaginally with vaccuum assistance after a long labor. Whittney's husband came into her life when Rylan was 8 months old and 3.5 years later Lucille was born. Whittney had some health issues during this pregnancy and had thought about possibly having a natural birth but was scared and opted for an epidural. She wanted a natural birth for her third baby as well but with her long and her contractions with him became very intense. She struggled with feeling like a failure after he was born but quickly learned to celebrate the joy and love he brought into her life. Brahm lived for 10 weeks and 2 days, one morning he just never woke up. Whitney says, "He came to teach so many things, but most of all; love. We miss him very greatly. I ache constantly. He is being part of a current major study on SIDS, and I hope that this study comes out on top because I don't want any other mother to ever feel the way I did that morning and the way I do every second of my life. The loss of a child is not comparable. It's hard to learn how to stay present when your soul needs to venture to your child on the other side. I am a big SIDS awareness advocate, and I want everyone to know that we as mothers have done nothing wrong. Brahm was my first successful exclusively breastfed baby. Our bond was immeasurable."

Whittney's rainbow baby Arbor was conceived very quickly after her loss. She says that she is her healer and she sees Brahm in her constantly. Whittney was able to breathe through her labor pains and contractions this time in a way she had only learned to do in breathing through her grief. She finally had the birth she desired and been able to exclussively breastfeed for longer than she ever had before. Her arms feel slightly less empty no though she misses her boy so much.

Whittney has had self esteem issues her entire life, especially after having children and wanted to do this for herself... "To learn to be brave, proud, and love myself regardless"